Augmented Space Response Q: Information and Space: One coherent Gestalt?
-In response to this question on the uniformity of the dimensions of physical space and data or dynamically represented information, it is first necessary to establish that the combination of these two new features is what makes up the digital medium of the 21st century that I have described. In terms of the evolution of augmented space from augmented reality, one significant difference is the fact that these two components have indeed formed a Gestalt picture for multi-media users. In a way, the location and the content of the information presented are one in the same. They are both types of information that make up the experience of augmented reality. However, from the cultural standpoint, the two differ significantly in their implications and evolution over the past two decades. The “dot com” era certainly is a fossilized conceptualization of what is now the social media era, where geo-location is as important to the experience of some users as the actual content that is contained within the dynamic representation of information. Thus, the answer to this question lies in the perspective of the observer. Augmented space is both one and many components, which interact harmoniously and interdependently to generate the augmentation that is available today. This is very similar to the Gestalt ideology where the whole does not make up the sum of its parts. Similarly, the augmented space is not merely a grouping of different technological, cultural, and spatial dimensions, but the cultivation of a unique experience that can be experienced when these different components come together to form a truly unique experience.
After Effects Response:
The article After Effects or the Velvet Revolution was a fascinating read due to the fact that I was not aware of how quickly the field of filmmaking and computer generated media expanded in the past 20 years. It is amazing to me that the Quantel-Paintbox color-rendering machine in the early 1990’s cost roughly $160,000 and now anyone with a computer is able to use and generate high quality images for free. The “velvet revolution” that softwares such as After Effects enabled is clearly a turning point in the ability of filmmakers to quickly produce quality works. It seems unimaginable that filmmakers, like Harry, were only able to produce 80 seconds of broadcast quality video at the time. Now, any teenager with a laptop can produce lengthy videos with various special effects.
The reference to this period of change in the field of media producers is interesting to read about since it appears that there has been a significant change in who is able to access the tools necessary to produce high quality media for distribution. While in the years before the exponential growth of technology, only large producers and companies were able to develop high quality images, films and other media. In is both shocking and exciting to understand how quickly such tools became available to the entire population. However, it appears the same constraints to the newest technologies continue to exist for the average designer in regards to CGI, such as the creations in the popular film avatar.
Now that Huyssen’s vision has been realized, it seems strange that so little has been written on the author’s “velvet revolution”. While it is true that critics have not fully addressed the context of this transformation of media applications, there has also been widespread media and user attention to these products. There is a multitude of videos and articles that serve as tutorials for using these complex software. As the article points out, the new ability to combine multiple types of media into one digital canvas has opened the Pandora’s box of creativity to users from all walks of life. I believe that one of the more significant aspects of this revolution in design capabilities discussed is the fact the analogy of being able to used mixed methods to create 3D media in a single program such as After Effects. The difficulty associated with having to use multiple programs to get the same result that can be more simply achieved today is astounding.
In conclusion, reading this article was enlightening for me as I was aware of the technology revolution but naïve about the significant changes that also impacted the world of graphic and video design that I am currently engaged in. I feel fortunate to be able to participate in the post-“velvet revolution” and appreciate the advances made in technology that have enabled so many artists and designers to seamless combine a variety of media sources into a single work. It is clear that the article has made a very convincing case that programs such as After Effects have truly transformed the identity of computerized media for the 21st century.
3 Discussion Questions:
Would this class have been available to students before the “velvet revolution”?
Is it fair that large organizations have complete control over the newest design technologies?
Will the momentum of the post-“velvet revolution” continue with updated software like adobe products or will there be new technology revolutions in the future?
For my Aurasma, I decided to place the viewer in a scene at the George Washington University's business school. Here, one can see a mystery unfold as they follow the clues that lead them from the outside of the building, through the lobby, up the elevator, and to the end of the end of this creepy tale. While the business school may seem like a place of formalities and people are very calm, there are underlying frustrations and tension that causes people to do strange things. Go on this journey and find what actually happens at the business school.
The story that accompanies this work is about a student who cracks after weeks of working non-stop. This work attempts to capture his story and some of the emotions and feelings experienced by using the augmented reality to illustrate these aspects of the tale. Each component is designed to flow smoothly as the different images and videos are connected to one another. This enables the viewer to go on an adventure while using the graphics to illustrate this narrative.
I used text and graphics that were intended to modify that which was already present. This included taking photographs of the triggers themselves and modifying them appropriately. The emotion and artistic appeal of this work is suppose to allow the viewer to feel as if their experience is changing as the go from one trigger to the next. At times there are scary components and others are simply strange. The video below depicts what this experience looks like first hand.
Video of Work:
[ invalid file: IMG_4709.m4v ] Triggers:
Overlays:
Test Project:
Target Photo:
Description: The target image that I choose for my augmented reality project was a picture that I took while on the beach in Punta Cana of the Dominican Republic. When I was searching for images to use for the project, this image stuck out. It captured a moment during my Spring break vacation last year that I realized was a perfect candidate for the assignment. What separated this image from a typical shot of the tropical shore was how my legs are stretched out, reflecting the comfort and bliss of the moment in the beautiful Caribbean beachfront. The sand, ocean, and sky combined into the perfect canvas for my imagination as I dozed off during that lazy day at the beach. I can feel the weight of the sun’s warm rays slowly persuading my eyes to rest. My first thought is of adventure and a dormant volcano appears on the horizon. I can see the boat transporting eager tourists and thrill-seekers who want a closer look at the ancient landform. Their excitement reminds me the famous Harry Potter movie scene in which Harry Potter and his fellow students first lay eyes on the captivating “Hogwarts” academy. Its medieval-inspired towers and impressive structure takes shape on the Caribbean horizon as well. I soon realize I am alone on this part of the beach. My mind is free to run wild as if there were a sign restricting this part of the beach it just for me. Nevertheless, the serenity of the moment is disrupted by my greatest foe: my hunger. I think of delicious jelly donuts awaiting me at home by the dozen. This snack time fantasy reminds me of my favorite snack buddy, who is far away from the beachfront. Rupert, my loyal puppy, awaits for me at home where there is not a sea of clear water but mountains of frigid snow. I see him trotting around in a field of cold powder and a smile surfaces upon my face. This is my augmented reality.
Step 1 (Selecting images from personal library + video for target image story via app):
Fall 2015
I am a senior and a double major in Psychology and Organizational Sciences
Q: Information and Space: One coherent Gestalt?
-In response to this question on the uniformity of the dimensions of physical space and data or dynamically represented information, it is first necessary to establish that the combination of these two new features is what makes up the digital medium of the 21st century that I have described. In terms of the evolution of augmented space from augmented reality, one significant difference is the fact that these two components have indeed formed a Gestalt picture for multi-media users. In a way, the location and the content of the information presented are one in the same. They are both types of information that make up the experience of augmented reality. However, from the cultural standpoint, the two differ significantly in their implications and evolution over the past two decades. The “dot com” era certainly is a fossilized conceptualization of what is now the social media era, where geo-location is as important to the experience of some users as the actual content that is contained within the dynamic representation of information. Thus, the answer to this question lies in the perspective of the observer. Augmented space is both one and many components, which interact harmoniously and interdependently to generate the augmentation that is available today. This is very similar to the Gestalt ideology where the whole does not make up the sum of its parts. Similarly, the augmented space is not merely a grouping of different technological, cultural, and spatial dimensions, but the cultivation of a unique experience that can be experienced when these different components come together to form a truly unique experience.
After Effects Response:
The article After Effects or the Velvet Revolution was a fascinating read due to the fact that I was not aware of how quickly the field of filmmaking and computer generated media expanded in the past 20 years. It is amazing to me that the Quantel-Paintbox color-rendering machine in the early 1990’s cost roughly $160,000 and now anyone with a computer is able to use and generate high quality images for free. The “velvet revolution” that softwares such as After Effects enabled is clearly a turning point in the ability of filmmakers to quickly produce quality works. It seems unimaginable that filmmakers, like Harry, were only able to produce 80 seconds of broadcast quality video at the time. Now, any teenager with a laptop can produce lengthy videos with various special effects.
The reference to this period of change in the field of media producers is interesting to read about since it appears that there has been a significant change in who is able to access the tools necessary to produce high quality media for distribution. While in the years before the exponential growth of technology, only large producers and companies were able to develop high quality images, films and other media. In is both shocking and exciting to understand how quickly such tools became available to the entire population. However, it appears the same constraints to the newest technologies continue to exist for the average designer in regards to CGI, such as the creations in the popular film avatar.
Now that Huyssen’s vision has been realized, it seems strange that so little has been written on the author’s “velvet revolution”. While it is true that critics have not fully addressed the context of this transformation of media applications, there has also been widespread media and user attention to these products. There is a multitude of videos and articles that serve as tutorials for using these complex software. As the article points out, the new ability to combine multiple types of media into one digital canvas has opened the Pandora’s box of creativity to users from all walks of life. I believe that one of the more significant aspects of this revolution in design capabilities discussed is the fact the analogy of being able to used mixed methods to create 3D media in a single program such as After Effects. The difficulty associated with having to use multiple programs to get the same result that can be more simply achieved today is astounding.
In conclusion, reading this article was enlightening for me as I was aware of the technology revolution but naïve about the significant changes that also impacted the world of graphic and video design that I am currently engaged in. I feel fortunate to be able to participate in the post-“velvet revolution” and appreciate the advances made in technology that have enabled so many artists and designers to seamless combine a variety of media sources into a single work. It is clear that the article has made a very convincing case that programs such as After Effects have truly transformed the identity of computerized media for the 21st century.
3 Discussion Questions:
Old Photo Colorized
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
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Elements:
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Step 4:
Step 5
Step 6:
Step 7:
Texture photo I took to texturize my project:
Step 8:
Final Version:
Kinetic Typography:
Cinemagraph:
Short Video Project:
Click here for my video!
Final Project: Augmented Reality
For my Aurasma, I decided to place the viewer in a scene at the George Washington University's business school. Here, one can see a mystery unfold as they follow the clues that lead them from the outside of the building, through the lobby, up the elevator, and to the end of the end of this creepy tale. While the business school may seem like a place of formalities and people are very calm, there are underlying frustrations and tension that causes people to do strange things. Go on this journey and find what actually happens at the business school.
The story that accompanies this work is about a student who cracks after weeks of working non-stop. This work attempts to capture his story and some of the emotions and feelings experienced by using the augmented reality to illustrate these aspects of the tale. Each component is designed to flow smoothly as the different images and videos are connected to one another. This enables the viewer to go on an adventure while using the graphics to illustrate this narrative.
I used text and graphics that were intended to modify that which was already present. This included taking photographs of the triggers themselves and modifying them appropriately. The emotion and artistic appeal of this work is suppose to allow the viewer to feel as if their experience is changing as the go from one trigger to the next. At times there are scary components and others are simply strange. The video below depicts what this experience looks like first hand.
Video of Work:
[ invalid file: IMG_4709.m4v ]
Triggers:
Overlays:
Test Project:
Target Photo:
Description: The target image that I choose for my augmented reality project was a picture that I took while on the beach in Punta Cana of the Dominican Republic. When I was searching for images to use for the project, this image stuck out. It captured a moment during my Spring break vacation last year that I realized was a perfect candidate for the assignment. What separated this image from a typical shot of the tropical shore was how my legs are stretched out, reflecting the comfort and bliss of the moment in the beautiful Caribbean beachfront. The sand, ocean, and sky combined into the perfect canvas for my imagination as I dozed off during that lazy day at the beach. I can feel the weight of the sun’s warm rays slowly persuading my eyes to rest. My first thought is of adventure and a dormant volcano appears on the horizon. I can see the boat transporting eager tourists and thrill-seekers who want a closer look at the ancient landform. Their excitement reminds me the famous Harry Potter movie scene in which Harry Potter and his fellow students first lay eyes on the captivating “Hogwarts” academy. Its medieval-inspired towers and impressive structure takes shape on the Caribbean horizon as well. I soon realize I am alone on this part of the beach. My mind is free to run wild as if there were a sign restricting this part of the beach it just for me. Nevertheless, the serenity of the moment is disrupted by my greatest foe: my hunger. I think of delicious jelly donuts awaiting me at home by the dozen. This snack time fantasy reminds me of my favorite snack buddy, who is far away from the beachfront. Rupert, my loyal puppy, awaits for me at home where there is not a sea of clear water but mountains of frigid snow. I see him trotting around in a field of cold powder and a smile surfaces upon my face. This is my augmented reality.
Step 1 (Selecting images from personal library + video for target image story via app):
Step 2 (Photoshop edited to insert as overlays):